Shipping-crate.



PATENTED DEC. s, 1907.

L. WHARTON. SHIPPING CRATE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16,1906.

To all whom it may concern:

LEWIS WHARTON, OF CAMBRIDGE, OHIO SHIPPING-CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3, 1907.

Application filed June 16, 1906. Serial No. 322,049.

Be it known that I, LEWIS WHARTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cambrid e, in the county of Guernsey and State of 0 io, have invented certain new and use-- ful Improvements in Shipping- Crates, of

,which the following is a specification.

The resent invention relates to crates of that c aracter which are commonly employed for the shipment of eggs'and similar articles, the object being to provide an im- 1{gloved device of this character which can be ocked down when returned to the shipper so as. to occupy a comparatively small amount of space and be handled at much reduced rates. n.

For a full description of the invention and "the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result", reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

y Figure 1 is a erspective view *of the crate when distende Fig. 2 is a similar view taken from the opposite side of the crate and showing-the same as partially folded. Fig. 3

- is a persfpective view of the crate when com pletely olded.

Corresponding and like parts-are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The numeral 1 designates the bottom of the crate, which, in the resent instance, is

rectangular in sha e an isprovided along one of its longitu inal edgeswith the upwardly projecting strip2. The'two sides 3 and 3 of the crate are hinged, respectively, to the up er portion'of the strip 2 and to the edge of tie bottom 1 opposite the strip2.

When the crate is folded, the side3 folds over upon the bottom and the side 3'folds over u on the side 3, the. stri 2 extending ing to the width of the bottom 1.

upwar ly above the bottom or a distance equal to the width of the side 3 and the latter mentioned side having a height correspond- The ends 4 and 4 of the crate are each formed in two sections, the lower .sections 5 and 5 being rigidly secured to the ends of the bottom 1, While the upper sections 6 and 6 are hinged to the lower sections.

It will be observed that the lower section 5 has aheight corresponding to the combined thickness of the two sides of the crate and is somewhat-smaller. than the lower section 5' which has a height corresponding to the combined thickness of the two'sides and the opposite end 4 In order to hold the ends and sides rigidly in position when the crate is distended, the up er sections 6 and 6 of the ends are provi ed with the headed studs and the sides are provided withthe hooks 8 which fit around the shanks of the studs 7 and engage with the heads thereof to prevent the members from folding either inwardly or outwardly. The cover to the crate is formed in the two transverse sections 9 and 9 which are hinged, respectively, to the upper sections 6 and 6 of the ends 4. The hinges 10 by means of which this connection is brought about are, preferably, secured to the inner faces of the members so that the adjacent edges thereof will form stops to limit the swinging move-' ment.

In folding the crate, the members 9 and -9 of the cover are swung upwardly so as to practically form continuations of the ends 4 and the same are then folded inwardly upon the sides 3, the upper section 6 of the end 4' and'the section. 9 of the cover fittin against the upper section 6 of the end 4, an the sec- I tion 9 of the cover. 4

In the preferred construction, the combined length of the upper section 6 of the end 4 and the section 9 of the coverds approximately equal to the length of the bottom 1 and a very compact structure thus obtained when the crate is folded. Hook members 11 are located upon opposite sides of the bottom 1 and engage with the headed studs 7 upon the ends of the crate to hold the various parts of the latter closely into contact with each other when folded. A hook 12 is also provided for locking the two sections 9 and 9' of the cover together when the crate-is distended.

If desired, a transverse partition 13 may be employed and in the present instance is shown as fitting loosely in grooves 14 in the sides of the crate.

Having thus. described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a device of the character'described, the combination of a bottom, a side designed to be folded against the bottom, a second side folding against the first mentioned side, endscarried by the bottom and designed to fold against the before mentioned sid'es,

studs projecting from the ends, hooks se-- cured to the sides and designed to engage the its - sides and ends closely against the bottom when the crate is folded.

2. Ina device of the character described, the combination of a bottom, a side designed to be folded against the bottom, a second side folding against the first mentioned side, ends, a cover section hinged to each end, one of the ends and the cover section hinged thereto folding against the last mentioned side, While the opposite end and correspond- 15 ing cover section folds against the first mentioned end and cover section, studs projecting from the ends, hooks secured to the sides 7 and designed to engage the studs to hold the members rigidly in position when the crate is distended, and hooks secured to the bottom and adapted to engage the before mentioned studs to hold the members closely together when the crate is folded.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature 1n presence of two witnesses.

LEWIS WHARTON.

Witnesses:

O. B. HUToInsoN, A. J. LINGENFELTER. 

